p. 7 | BREVITIES by J. C.

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 20, 1860

BREVITIES.

By J. C.

ILLUSTRATIONS when well applied, are like “words fully spoken,” like “apples of gold in pictures of silver;” but when ill applied, vice versa. It requires taste and judgment to use illustrations aright, and when there is a failure to do this, the wrong impression is given, and truth is baffled. I once heard the Christian race compared to a horse in full speed; and as the horse could not be stopped on account of the momentum he had acquired, so the Christian could not be hindered for the same reason.

Now here was a grievous mistake, for the Christian is sustained by God, not by the momentum he gains; and besides, this momentum supposes peril, for the horse often fails and breaks his neck by this very thing; whereas the Christian goes on steadily, and the more force he acquires from God, the safer he is, while the more momentum the race-horse acquires, the more danger.

“The legs of the lame are not equal; so is a parable in the mouth of fools.” Prov. xxvi, 7.

Taken up with trifles now! Oh, how many who are looking for translation are taken up with trifles! Instead of keeping the world beneath their feet, it is allowed to engross the whole mind. What shall we eat, and drink, and wear, are important questions; but O, how small in comparison with those weighty, sublime interests now at stake, relating to the future! O, let us continually be deeply impressed with the weighty and terrible realities before us, and upon us; and as we mingle (unavoidably) with the wicked, the hypocritical, and the profane, as we exert all our powers in present and daily duties, let us bear about with us in our hearts the witness that Enoch had. Let our hearts be heavy with the fine gold, and our whole being constantly sensible and alive to the fact that we are undergoing the strictest scrutiny of Him whose eyes are as a flame of fire, and in whose presence angels worship. Let us remember as we repair to our daily toil, and (unwillingly) hear the idle talk, the witty remarks, the jest of the profane, and the useless tale of scandal, the political debate, and the noisy acclamations of the blinded crowd, that we are pilgrims and strangers here, and the city is near, nearer at every step, and the way more and more perilous. O, how can we trifle, or be entertained with trifles!

“Commit thy way unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” But says one, How can I bring these little affairs before the Judge of heaven and earth? It would be profane to mention my little every day anxieties to him who is so great. Stop, brother, does he not notice the falling sparrow, and are not the hairs of your head all numbered? Commit all to him, mind and body, worldly and heavenly treasures, to him trust your interests, he can prosper you, and when he sets his hand to deliver you, none can hinder. He can give sun and rain, or blasting and mildew, frost and drouth. He can increase your flocks and herds, or send the murrain and the plague, and shrink them to nought. He can give you skill to wisely arrange your business, or be can leave you to Satan, who may confuse your mind, tangle your affairs, disturb your peace, and ruin you temporally and spiritually. “The Lord giveth wisdom. Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” Then fly to him, and do not grudge the time necessary for devotion. It is a wise outlay. It is your best capital, your surest investment.

We cannot force the mind; it must move involuntarily. The movements of most minds, on moral subjects, are slow. The understanding must be convinced, before the conscience can be reached; and conscience sometimes labors in her painful task long before the will is influenced. Be patient; wait until arguments and evidences have had time to do their work; especially should we forbear and wait the slow movements of the dull mind of the erring one, who perhaps may yet return. If you have no hope, do not throw any obstacles in the way, but always keep a noble, forgiving heart within your bosom, to welcome the returning wanderer, who perhaps may cherish even now better sentiments than you credit him for, and whose heart even now struggles to free itself from Satan’s influence.

Many a powerful speaker has lost his power when he descends from the stand. To speak well, requires arduous labor; but to feel the sacred fire constantly, to be just as plain, as convincing, as conscientious, as unyielding in familiar conversation with loving friends; to carry the gospel sword with us all the time, in our daily walks, to meet the sycophantic brother, who pours his slanderous, one-sided tale into our ears, with stern impartiality, to reprove with just discernment our equals who would intimidate or overpower by the established influence of social or so-called moral institutions, to be always just, always impartial as well to our host who loads his table for us with choice viands, and to the benefactor who rescues us from the fangs of poverty, and to the faithful ally who has always stood alongside to stay us up, to deal as plainly with these as to the sour opposer who throws sand and vinegar into our eyes;—this is indeed a Godlike virtue.

J. C.